Air Fryer Turkey Breast

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Air Fryer Turkey Breast allows you to feed your family a Thanksgiving dinner quality turkey in less than an hour. It’s crispy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside.

Depending on the size of your air fryer will allow you to determine the size of the whole turkey breast that you can air fry.

A close look at a plate of air fryer turkey breast.

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If you have a smaller family, you may want to only make a turkey breast for Thanksgiving dinner. Cooking the turkey breast in your air fryer is a great alternative. This recipe uses a whole bone in breast and is the best recipe.

If you don’t feel like making an entire turkey, this is a great way, using an air fryer, to cook up the most coveted part of the turkey. Air frying ensures the turkey breast is perfectly cooked with the crispy skin you crave.

Find some great tips and tricks for your Air Fryer. It is such a handy devise for busy lives.

If you’re looking for more air fryer recipes, try these Air Fryer Bakery Style Chocolate Chip Cookies, Glazed Air Fryer Ham and Homemade Toaster Strudel (Air Fryer).

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A plate of the meat, potatoes and green beans.

Why We Love to Cook a Turkey Breast Recipe

Make the star of your holiday table with little fuss. There is no need to even turn on the oven to have an incredible turkey breast with a crispy skin.

  • 50 Minute Meal: A Thanksgiving quality meal in less than an hour. It will be your favorite way to cook the turkey for smaller events.
  • Easy Ingredients: Only 6 ingredient, you have on hand.
  • Family Friendly: Everyone loves a delicious turkey dinner.
  • Adaptable: Can make it and use for sandwiches in place of processed lunch meat.
  • Makes Great Leftovers: Use for open faced hot sandwiches the next day or Turkey Rice Soup.

Ingredient Notes for Juicy Roast Air Fry Turkey Breast

The turkey breast and seasonings.
  • Skin on Turkey Breast: Clean and pat the turkey dry with paper towel. Turkey Tenderloin can be great to cook this way too. Make sure the breast you choose fits in the air fryer.
  • Butter: Salted or unsalted butter can be used depending on your seasoning preference.
  • Sea Salt and Fresh Black Pepper: Use fresh if possible, grinded well.
  • Garlic: Fresh garlic or garlic powder.
  • Thyme: 4 Sprigs of Fresh Thyme or use your favorite poultry seasoning.

See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.

Variations and Substitutions for Air Fryer Turkey Breast Recipe

Try using these suggestions when you are air frying. Remember this recipe is just a jumping off point for you to make your own special family meal.

  • Chicken: Make air fryer chicken in place of the turkey.
  • Seasoning: It is easy to adapt the seasoning you use in this turkey recipe. Try this Substitute for Poultry Seasoning or your favorite fresh herbs.
  • Cooking: Stuff herbs and citrus fruit into the cavity of the turkey breast for even more flavor. You can also make a slow cooker turkey breast but you might have to place it under the broiler to get a crispy skin.

How to Make Bone-in Turkey Breast Air Fryer Recipe

These are the basic steps for making Bone-in or boneless turkey breast. Please refer to the recipe card below for more detailed instructions and nutrition information.

These are the basic steps for making air fryer bone-in whole turkey breast. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions.

Preparing the meat and then adding the seasoning on top.

STEP 1: Preheat the Air Fryer and Make Herb Butter

First, preheat your fryer and then melt your butter in the microwave or on a double broiler on the stove. Once melted, add in the sea salt, peppercorn, garlic powder, and thyme. Then mix.

Next, using a basting brush, brush your herb butter mix on the top and bottom of the turkey breast.

STEP 2: Air fryer and Cook/ Flip the Turkey

Next, place the turkey breast skin side down in the air fryer basket. Set your Air Fryer to 375 degrees F for 45 minutes. Then at the halfway mark of about 22/23 minutes, flip the breast with tongs. Next continue to cook. If the breast is getting too dark cover with aluminum foil. The temperature of the turkey breast should reach 165 degrees.

STEP 3: Rest the Air Fryer Bone-in Turkey Breast

Finally, remove the turkey breast and allow your turkey rest. Resting will allow all the juices to return to the bird before slicing.

Recipe FAQs to Cook Turkey Breast in an Air Fryer

Of course, you can make this turkey in the air fryer with avocado oil or olive oil in place of the butter if you wish.

One hundred sixty-five degrees (165ºF) is the safe internal temperature for cooked turkey breast, meaning that your bird is fully cooked and safe to eat. This temperature can be measured in the thickest part of the breast. The time will depend on the size of your breast. If you are using a larger turkey add more cooking time.

Of course you can use a wet brine or dry brine turkey in this air fryer recipe.

Store your leftover roast turkey in an airtight container or cover well with foil. You can enjoy up to 3-4 days after cooking.

A boneless breast takes about 60 minutes total cooking time, while a bone-in breast takes about 50 minutes total cooking time.

Reheat on the stovetop with a little turkey broth to keep it moist or try this Thanksgiving Turkey Panini.

It is a good rule of thumb to serve about 3/4 to 1 pound of turkey per person.

A top shot the air fryer turkey breast.

Expert Tips for Making This Recipe

This turkey breast recipe will take about 50 minutes to make. These tips will help you make air fryer turkey breast that is tender and juicy.

  • Preheat: It is important to run your air fryer to preheat before cooking for best results.
  • Add Fresh: You can use dried herbs and ground pepper but the fresh herbs really improves the flavor of air fried turkey breast. Use your favorites onions or celery too add flavor too.
  • Butter: Try different compound butters to really boost the flavor of your turkey. For example, fresh sage, rosemary and a little fresh lemon zest really can elevate the flavor.
  • Gravy: Here is a great recipe to make your own.

What to Serve with Air Fryer Turkey Breast

A close look at a plate of air fryer turkey breast.
5 from 8 votes

Air Fryer Turkey Breast

Yield: 4 servings
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 45 minutes
Total: 50 minutes
Air Fryer Turkey Breast allows you to feed your family a Thanksgiving dinner quality turkey in less than an hour. It’s crispy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside.
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⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️Did you try this recipe? Please leave a star rating and review below!

Ingredients

  • 2 pound Turkey breast, w/ skin
  • 4 tablespoons Butter, melted
  • 1 tablespoon Sea salt
  • 1 tablespoon Fresh peppercorn, grinded well
  • 2 tablespoon Garlic, minced
  • 4 Sprigs thyme, remove from stem

Instructions

  • Melt your butter in the microwave or on a double broiler on the stove.
  • Once melted, add in the sea salt, peppercorn, garlic, and thyme. Mix.
  • Using a basting brush, brush your butter mix on the top and bottom of the turkey breast.
  • Place the turkey breast in your air fryer.
  • Set your Air Fryer to 375 degrees F for 45 minutes.
  • At the halfway mark of about 22/23 minutes, flip the breast with tongs. Continue to cook.
  • Once the air fryer has finished cooking, cut and serve!
  • Top with cranberry sauce, gravy, or eat as is! Enjoy!

Expert Tips

  • Preheat: It is important to run your air fryer to preheat before cooking for best results.
  • Add Fresh: You can use dried herbs and ground pepper but the fresh herbs really improves the flavor. Use your favorites onions or celery too add flavor too.
  • Butter: Try different compound butters to really boost the flavor of your turkey. For example, fresh Sage, rosemary and a little fresh lemon zest really can elevate the flavor.
  • Gravy: Here is a great recipe to make your own.
  • Dietary consideration tip: If you are lactose intolerant, you can use any type of oil you desire for this recipe. Olive oil, avocado oil etc are all good.

Estimated Nutritional Information

Calories: 343kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 50g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 153mg | Sodium: 2303mg | Potassium: 608mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 457IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 59mg | Iron: 2mg
The nutritional information provided are estimates. To learn more about how I calculate this information go to www.itisakeeper.com/about-its-a-keeper/privacy-disclosure-policies/
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Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American

2 thoughts on “Air Fryer Turkey Breast”

  1. 5 stars
    We are having a smaller Thanksgiving this year and I am so excited to make this. I tested it out last week and it was so delicious!

    Reply
  2. 5 stars
    Thanks a lot for this amazing and super easy to make turkey breast recipe! It’s really tasty and very flavorful! Will surely have this again! Highly recommended!

    Reply

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